“A second three-year grant was awarded by the Greater London Authority (Mayor of London) to facilitate free entry for Greater London state schools to ZSL London Zoo for the period of 2008-2011. This represents a total sum of approximately £1.5m” page 22, Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements, 31 December 2008 http://static.zsl.org/files/zsl-trustees-and-financial-statements-311208-779.pdf 25th August 2010 - “ZSL London Zoo welcomes approximately 120,000 school children through its gates each year, with around 90,000 of those receiving free school visits through funding provided by the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority (GLA).” Zoo gets top marks for education - News - ZSL London Zoo - ZSL 16th November 2010 - “As part of a review of GLA spending for 2011-12, it is proposed that the GLA’s current funding agreement with ZSL London Zoo and the currently proposed funding agreement with the London Wetlands Centre are not extended beyond 31 March 2011. Whilst this is a difficult decision, this measure comes at a time when public budgets are under extreme pressure and it would save the GLA £606,000 per annum in total.” MD714 London Zoo and the London Wetlands Centre programme | Greater London Authority “Unfortunately the current GLA funding agreement is due to cease on the 31 March 2011 and will not be renewed.” Booking a school visit
Study on School Children Visits to Zoos Dr Eric Jensen of the University of Warwick researched the effect, if any, zoos have on children and their education. [ame]http://www.ericjensen.co.uk/ej1/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BBC-3-Counties-radio-interview-Zoo-Learning-E-Jensen1.mp3[/ame] Media Coverage Dr Eric A. Jensen
Whereas I see that every institution might need to make a contribution as the financial situation of Councils tightens, I disagree wholeheartedly with the principle of taking away all their funding. It should be borne 10-20% across the Board and not by the few. To me, it reeks to me as a conveniently timed politicised method of cutting funding to those not deemed appropriate by the current govt. that holds sway.
It's such a shame. You only have to be around the visiting schoolchildren at London Zoo to see how much they benefit from the scheme. City kids in particular are so struck by the reality of actual animals around them and if you can get their attention they stop trying to be "cool" (the older ones, that is) and become fascinated and ask questions. The butterfly tunnel in particular is an eye-opener for some of them who till then only had a hazy grasp, if that, of metamorphosis (as in: "Miss! Why hasn't that caterpillar got wings?") There will be a horrible knock-on effect on some of the education staff, too, as they may not be needed. The up side is that in term time it will be so much quieter and less crowded for other visitors!
